Parent-Teen Communication | Adolescent Counseling Services

How to Talk to Your Child About Suicide and Self-Harm

in Cutting / Depression / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Child Communication / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Self-Harm / Suicide / Suicide Prevention by Adolescent Counseling Services March 12, 2025March 10, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Holly Fitch, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program TALKING ABOUT SUICIDEand self-harm may be intimidating, but it is a crucial conversation to have with your child. Both suicide and self-harm are becoming increasingly common for children and adolescents. The goal of these conversations is to be open and understanding, while also taking steps […]

Simple Tips for Giving Clear Instructions

in Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Child Communication / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries by Adolescent Counseling Services March 5, 2025March 4, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Christina Desage, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONS are the foundation of positive communication between parents and children, fostering understanding and cooperation. When instructions are clear, concise, and delivered with a calm and respectful tone, children are more likely to grasp and act on them. This clarity not only enhances […]

Parental Control Apps: Ensuring Online Safety or Eroding Trust?

in Helicopter Parenting / Monitoring Media / Online Monitoring / Online Privacy / Online Safety / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Teen Apps / Teen Privacy / Teens and Technology by Adolescent Counseling Services October 9, 2024October 8, 2024 0 comments

Written By: Noosha Nafarzadegan, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program WITH THE EVER-INCREASINGprevalence of smartphones among teens and pre-teens, parents often turn to parental control mobile applications (apps) to protect their children from online risks. These apps can block, filter, and monitor a wide range of online activities, providing parents with the tools to […]

How to Recognize a Child in Crisis and Intervene Appropriately

in Anger Management / Behavioral Norms / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Stress / Stress Management / Teen Therapy by Adolescent Counseling Services April 17, 2023April 14, 2023 0 comments

Written By: Andrew Cecil, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Adolescent Substance Addiction Treatment Program IT IS COMMONfor parents to feel concerned about their child’s well-being when they notice things like poor academic performance, substance use, and unhealthy relationships. However, few parents are as familiar with the behavioral signs of a crisis. A crisis refers to a […]

Irritated or Debilitated: Helping your Teen Identify their Depression

in Academic Stress / Anger Management / Behavioral Norms / Co-Occuring Disorders / Depression / Disorders / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Stress / Stress Management by Adolescent Counseling Services April 5, 2023April 4, 2023 0 comments

Written By: Brett Trace, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program If You’rea parent of a teen or someone who works with teens, odds are you’ve encountered teenage irritability. What may have felt like an easygoing, straightforward comment might cause your teen to become angry or withdraw from the conversation. Friends that they’ve had for a […]

Supporting Teens on Social Media

in Cultural Stressors / Facebook / Mental Health / Middle School Behavior / Monitoring Media / Online Monitoring / Online Privacy / Online Safety / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Self care / Social Media Abuse / Stress / Teen Apps / Teen Peer Groups / Teen Privacy / Teens and Technology / Twitter by Adolescent Counseling Services September 28, 2022September 22, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Michael Burks, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program TECHNOLOGYand social media play complex roles in the lives of teenagers. Teens are at a developmental stage where social relationships have foremost importance in their lives. Social relationships and group memberships contribute to identity formation and self-esteem. Social media has tremendous value to teens. […]

Teen Pregnancy

in Dating / Discussing Sex / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Relationships / Romance by Adolescent Counseling Services March 9, 2022March 4, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Ruby Ortiz, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program ONE OF THE MOSTtransformative experiences that anyone can encounter in their lifetime is going through a pregnancy. Individuals go through a significant amount of physical, emotional, and psychological changes during this period in their life. It doesn’t only include the body changing throughout each […]

Teen Dating: 5 Tips for Parents

in Consent / Dating / Dating Violence / Discussing Sex / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Relationships / Romance / Setting Boundaries / Sexual Assault / Sexuality / Society Norms / Teen Peer Groups by Adolescent Counseling Services February 9, 2022February 4, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Wendy Ortiz-Rodriguez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program There comes a timein an adolescent’s development when friends turn into crushes and crushes turn into potential dating relationships. Dating can be tricky at any age in development, therefore it is worth having a conversation about this topic with your teen to guide them […]

First-Generation American Teens

in Academic Stress / Anxiety / Cultural Stressors / Depression / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Perfectionism / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder / Stress / Stress Management by Adolescent Counseling Services February 2, 2022January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Patricia H. Scherer, MS, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program Growing up the child of immigrants can have numerous advantages for some individuals. Immigrant parents from many cultures, including LatinX, Asian, and Eastern European backgrounds, emphasize the importance of family, collectivistic values, and cultural and religious heritage, all of which can buffer […]

Being a Guide to Your Teen as They Explore Boundaries

in Anger Management / Mental Health / Parent Role Models / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries by Adolescent Counseling Services September 15, 2021January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Dafne Garcia, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program RAISING A FAMILYis not an easy job. As children go through their developmental stages, it challenges parents to learn and adapt to where their child is at developmentally. Raising a teen is no different. Teens go through many changes in their lives that include […]